The Rays have lost a season-high five straight and find themselves with the worst record in the American League. They are 10 games under .500.

RF Wil Myers was placed on the DL this morning with a sprained right wrist, becoming the third position player to be shelved this week because of an injury. He joins OF Brandon Guyer (fracture in left thumb) and C Ryan Hanigan (right hamstring strain).

Sternberg didn’t use the injuries as an excuse.

“Right now there’s room for everyone to be playing better,” he said.

When asked if the team could trade some players (David Price?) should they fall out of contention by the July 31 trade deadline, Sternberg said, “We’re still two months away from that point.”

The Rays will try to salvage the finale of this three-game series with the Red Sox and take some momentum into their two-game series that begins Monday night in Miami with a win this afternoon.

They will have to do it without SS Yunel Escobar (tight left quad), who was in the original lineup but scratched 90 minutes before game time.

Also, OF Jerry Sands, called up this morning from Triple A Durham to replace Myers spot in the roster, is batting cleanup and playing DH.